Ultrahigh Time Resolution Observations of Radio Bursts on AD Leonis

We report observations of a radio burst that occurred on the flare star AD Leonis over a frequency range of 1120-1620 MHz (λ ≈ 18–27 cm). These observations, made by the 305 m telescope of the Arecibo Observatory, are unique in providing the highest time resolution (1 ms) and broadest spectral coverage (Δ ν/ν = 0.36) of a stellar radio burst yet obtained. The burst was observed on 2005 April 9. It produced a peak flux density of ~500 mJy, and it was essentially 100% right-circularly polarized. The dynamic spectrum shows a rich variety of structure: patchy emission, diffuse bands, and narrowband, fast-drift striae. Focusing our attention on the fast-drift striae, we consider the possible role of dispersion, and find that it requires rather special conditions in the source to be a significant factor. We suggest that the emission may be due to the cyclotron maser instability, a mechanism known to occur in planetary magnetospheres. We briefly explore possible implications of this possibility.